Hydraulic control unit

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic control unit for controlling the position of a plow blade or the like includes a one-piece casting defining a common base portion for a selectively variable multifunction power unit. The common base portion is bored to provide passages for flow of hydraulic fluid from a pump. Several different one-piece control blocks are attachable to the common base portion for selectively varying the number of functions which the power unit controls.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,773,074 Miceli [4 Nov. 20, 1973HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Inventor:Marc L. Miceli, Lyndhurst, Ohio Meyer Products Inc., Cleveland, OhioNov. 1, 1972 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1970 Tarbox 137/596 power unitcontrols.

Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Miller Att0rneyJames H. Tilberry et al.

{57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic control unit for controlling the position of aplow blade or the like includes a one-piece casting defining a commonbase portion for a selectively variable multifunction power unit. Thecommon base portion is bored to provide passages for flow of hydraulicfluid from a pump. Several different one-piece control blocks areattachable to the common base portion for selectively varying the numberof functions which the 42 Claims, 52 Drawing Figures 370 I I K" m 452334 286 Patented Nov. 20, 1973 20 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 20, 19733,773,074

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1. A one-piece base member for a hydraulic power unit, said base memberhaving an inner reservoir defining surface area and an inner ramdefining surface area, said base member having an exterior surface, apump inlet passage in said base member extending from said reservoirdefining surface area to said exterior surface, a pump outlet passage insaid base member extending therethrough from a first portion of saidexterior surface to a second portion of said exterior surface, said pumpoutlet passage having a first pump outlet opening in said first portionof said exterior surface and a second pump outlet opening in said secondportion of said exterior surface, a ram energizing passage in said basemember extending from said exterior surface to said ram defining surfacearea, said ram energizing passage having a ram energizing passageopening in said exterior surface, a ram relief valve receiving bore insaid base member, and a ram relief passage in said base member extendingfrom said ram defining surface areA to said reservoir defining surfacearea through said ram relief valve receiving bore.
 2. The base member ofclaim 1 wherein said ram energizing passage opening is in said secondportion of said exterior surface, and further including plate means forattachment to said base member over said second portion of said exteriorsurface, said plate member having a plate surface facing said secondportion of said exterior surface, a communicating passage in said platemember having first and second spaced-apart communicating passageopenings in said plate surface, said first communicating passage openingbeing aligned with said second pump outlet opening, and said secondcommunicating passage opening being aligned with said ram energizingpassage opening.
 3. The base member of claim 1 and further including afirst return passage therein extending from said reservoir definingsurface area to said exterior surface and having a first return passageopening in said exterior surface.
 4. The base member of claim 3 whereinsaid ram energizing passage opening and said first return passageopening are in said second portion of said exterior surface, and furtherincluding plate means for attachment to said base member over saidsecond portion of said exterior surface, said plate member having aplate surface facing said second portion of said exterior surface, acommunicating passage in said plate member having first and secondspaced-apart communicating passage openings in said plate surface, saidfirst communicating passage opening being aligned with said second pumpoutlet opening, and said second communicating passage opening beingaligned with said ram energizing passage opening, said first returnpassage opening being blocked by a plate surface portion of said platesurface.
 5. The base member of claim 3 wherein said ram energizingpassage opening and said first return passage opening are in said secondportion of said exterior surface, and further including a one-piecefirst control block for attachment to said base member over said secondportion of said exterior surface, said first control block having firstand second spaced-apart valve receiving bores therein, said firstcontrol block having a first control block surface facing said secondportion of said exterior surface of said base member, said first controlblock having first and second spaced-apart control block passagesextending from said first control block surface to said first valvereceiving bore, said first and second control block passages havingfirst and second spaced-apart control block passage openings in saidfirst control block surface, said first control block passage openingbeing aligned with said second pump outlet opening, said second controlblock passage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passageopening, a bore connecting passage connecting said first and secondvalve receiving bores, a return passage extending from said second boreto said first control block surface and having a return passage openingon said control block surface aligned with said return passage openingin said exterior surface of said base member, first and secondspaced-apart bore outlet passages extending from said second valvereceiving bore to the exterior surface of said first control block. 6.The device of claim 5 and further including a check valve bore in saidbore connecting passage between said first and second valve receivingbores.
 7. The device of claim 6 and further including a pilot operatedcheck valve bore in said return passage from said second valve receivingbore to said first control block surface, and a pilot passage connectingsaid pilot operated check valve bore with said bore connecting passage.8. The device of claim 7 and further including cross-over check valvebores and passages connecting said bore outlet passages from said secondvalve receiving bore.
 9. The device of claim 5 and further includingcross-over check valve bores and passages connecting said bore outletPassages from said second valve receiving bore.
 10. The base member ofclaim 3 and further including a second return passage extending fromsaid reservoir defining surface area to said exterior surface and havinga second return passage opening in said exterior surface.
 11. The basemember of claim 10 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and saidfirst and second return passage openings are in said second surfaceportion of said exterior surface, and further including plate means forattachment to said base member over said second portion of said exteriorsurface, said plate member having a plate surface facing said secondportion of said exterior surface, a communicating passage in said platemember having first and second spaced-apart communicating passageopenings in said plate surface, said first communicating passage openingbeing aligned with said second pump outlet opening, and said secondcommunicating passage opening being aligned with said ram energizingpassage opening, said first and second return passage openings beingblocked by a portion of said plate surface.
 12. The base member of claim10 wherein said ram energizing passage opening and said first and secondreturn passage openings are in said second portion of said exteriorsurface, and further including a one-piece control block attachable tosaid base member over said second portion of said exterior surface, saidcontrol block having a facing exterior surface portion facing saidsecond portion of said exterior surface of said base member and aremaining control block exterior surface, said control block havingfirst, second, third and fourth valve receiving bores therein, first andsecond spaced-apart control block passages extending from said facingexterior surface portion to said first valve receiving bore and havingfirst and second spaced-apart control block passage openings in saidfacing exterior surface portion, said first control block passageopening being aligned with said second pump outlet opening on saidsecond surface portion of said base member, said second control blockpassage opening being aligned with said ram energizing passage openingon said second surface portion of said base member, a first boreconnecting passage connecting said first and second valve receivingbores, a second bore connecting passage connecting said second and thirdvalve receiving bores, a third bore connecting passage connecting saidsecond and fourth valve receiving bores, first and second spaced-apartthird valve receiving bore outlet passages extending from said thirdvalve receiving bore to said remaining control block exterior surface,first and second spaced-apart fourth valve receiving bore outletpassages extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to saidremaining control block exterior surface, a first return passageextending from said third valve receiving bore to said facing exteriorsurface portion and having a first return passage opening therein, asecond return passage extending from said fourth valve receiving bore tosaid facing exterior surface portion and having a second return passageopening therein, said first and second return passage openings on saidfacing exterior surface of said control block being aligned with saidfirst and second return passage openings in said second surface portionon said base member.
 13. The device of claim 12 and further includingfirst and second check valve bores in said second and third boreconnecting passages.
 14. The device of claim 13 and further includingfirst and second pilot operated check valve bores in said first andsecond return passages in said control block, and first and second pilotpassages extending respectively from said second bore connecting passageto said first pilot operated check valve bore and from said third boreconnecting passage to said second pilot operated check valve bore. 15.The device of claim 14 and further including cross-over pressure reliefbores and passages connecting said first and second oUtlet passages fromsaid third valve receiving bore in said control block.
 16. A one-piececontrol block for use with a hydraulic power unit, said block having asubstantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exteriorsurface, first and second spaced-apart valve receiving bores in saidremaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passagesextending from said connecting exterior surface to said first valvereceiving bore, a bore connecting passage connecting said first andsecond valve receiving bores, first and second spaced-apart outletpassages extending from said second valve receiving bore to saidremaining exterior surface, and a return passage extending from saidsecond valve receiving bore to said connecting exterior surface.
 17. Thecontrol block of claim 16 and further including a check valve bore insaid bore connecting passage.
 18. The control block of claim 17 andfurther including a pilot operated check valve bore in said returnpassage, and a pilot passage extending from said bore connecting passageto said pilot operated check valve bore.
 19. The control block of claim18 and further including cross-over check valve relief bores andpassages connecting said first and second outlet passages.
 20. Aone-piece control block for a hydraulic power unit, said block having asubstantially plane connecting exterior surface and a remaining exteriorsurface, said block having first, second, third and fourth valvereceiving bores in said remaining exterior surface, first and secondspaced-apart passages extending from said connecting exterior surface tosaid first valve receiving bore, a first bore connecting passageextending from said first valve receiving bore to said second valvereceiving bore, a second bore connecting passage extending from saidsecond valve receiving bore to said third valve receiving bore, a thirdbore connecting passage extending from said second valve receiving boreto said fourth valve receiving bore, first and second spaced-apartpassages extending from said third valve receiving bore to saidremaining exterior surface, first and second spaced-apart passagesextending from said fourth valve receiving bore to said remainingexterior surface, a first return passage extending from said third valvereceiving bore to said connecting exterior surface, and a second returnpassage extending from said fourth valve receiving bore to saidconnecting exterior surface.
 21. The control block of claim 20 andfurther including first and second check valve bores communicatingrespectively with said second and third bore connecting passages. 22.The control block of claim 20 and further including first and secondpilot operated check valve bores communicating respectively with saidfirst and second return passages.
 23. The control block of claim 22 andfurther including first and second check valve bores communicatingrespectively with said second and third bore connecting passages. 24.The control block of claim 23 and further including cross-over reliefcheck valve bores and passages interconnecting said passages extendingfrom said third valve receiving bore.
 25. The control block of claim 20and further including cross-over relief check valve bores and passagesinterconnecting said passages extending from said third valve receivingbore.
 26. A hydraulic power unit including a reservoir-ram unitincluding a reservoir and a ram and having a one-piece base member, pumpmeans attached to said base member and having a pump inlet and a pumpoutlet, a pump inlet passage in said base member extending from saidreservoir to said pump inlet, said base member having a control exteriorsurface and a pump connecting exterior surface, a pump outlet passageextending therethrough from said pump connecting surface to said controlexterior surface and having a pump outlet opening in said controlexterior surface, pump check valve means for checking reverse flow ofhydraulic fluid through said pump outlet, a ram Energizing passageextending from said control exterior surface to said ram and having aram energizing passage opening in said control exterior surface, a ramrelief valve attached to said base member and having first and secondpositions, a ram relief passage extending from said ram to saidreservoir through said ram relief valve, said ram relief valve blockingflow of fluid through said ram relief passage in said first positionthereof and opening said ram relief passage to flow of fluid from saidram to said reservoir in said second position thereof, and a one-piececontrol block attached to said base member over said control exteriorsurface, said control block having connecting passage means forinterconnecting said pump outlet opening in said control exteriorsurface and said ram energizing passage opening in said control exteriorsurface, whereby energization of said pump means with said ram reliefvalve in said first position supplies fluid to said ram for extendingsaid ram and movement of said ram relief valve to said second positionwith said pump means de-energized retracts said ram by exhausting fluidfrom said ram to said reservoir.
 27. The device of claim 26 wherein saidcontrol block comprises a one-piece plate member having said connectingpassage means therein.
 28. The device of claim 26 wherein said basemember includes a first return passage extending between said controlexterior surface and said reservoir and having a first return passageopening in said control exterior surface.
 29. The device of claim 28wherein said control block includes a plate member having a blockingsurface for blocking said first return passage opening.
 30. The deviceof claim 28 and further including a second return passage in said basemember extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoirand having a second return passage opening in said control exteriorsurface.
 31. The device of claim 30 wherein said control block includesa blocking surface for blocking said first and second return passageopenings in said control exterior surface.
 32. The device of claim 26and further including a first return passage in said base memberextending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir andhaving a first return passage opening in said control exterior surface,said control block having first and second selector valves thereonmovable between first and second positions, said control block having aconnecting exterior surface facing said control exterior surface on saidbase member and a remaining exterior control block surface, first andsecond spaced-apart control block passages extending from said controlblock connecting surface to said first selector valve, said first andsecond control block passages defining said connecting passage means,said first control block passage communicating with said pump outletpassage opening in said control exterior surface and said base memberand said second control block passage communicating with said ramenergizing passage opening in said control exterior surface of said basemember, a valve connecting passage connecting said first and secondselector valves, said first selector valve being operative in said firstposition thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said firstcontrol block passage to said second control block passage and to blockfluid flow therethrough from said first control block passage to saidvalve connecting passage, said first selector valve being operative insaid second position thereof to block fluid flow therethrough from saidfirst control block passage to said second control block passage and toestablish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passageto said valve connecting passage, first and second spaced-apartoperating passages extending from said second selector valve to saidremaining control block exterior surface, a control block return passageextending from said second selector valve to said control blockconnecting surface and communicating wIth said first return passage insaid base member, said second selector valve being operative in saidfirst position thereof to establish fluid communication therethroughfrom said valve connecting passage to said first operating passage andfrom said second operating passage to said control block return passageand to block fluid flow therethrough from said valve connecting passageto said second operating passage and said control block return passage,said control block being operative in said second position thereof toestablish fluid flow therethrough from said valve connecting passage tosaid second operating passage and from said first operating passage tosaid control block return passage, and to block fluid flow therethroughfrom said valve connecting passage to said first operating passage andsaid control block return passage.
 33. The device of claim 32 andfurther including check valve means in said valve connecting passage forallowing fluid flow from said first selector valve to said secondselector valve and blocking fluid flow from said second selector valveto said first selector valve.
 34. The device of claim 33 and furtherincluding a pilot operated check valve in said control block returnpassage, a pilot passage extending from said valve connecting passage tosaid pilot operated control valve, said pilot operated check beingmovable between a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough fromsaid second selector valve and an open position allowing fluid flowtherethrough from said second selector valve, said pilot operated checkvalve being in said closed position when said first selector valve is insaid first position so that no fluid is flowing under pressure throughsaid valve connecting passage, said pilot operated check valve being insaid open position when said first selector valve is in said secondposition so that fluid is flowing under pressure through said valveconnecting passage and into said pilot passage to move said pilotoperated check valve to said open position.
 35. The device of claim 34and further including a pair of cross-over relief check valvesinterconnecting said first and second operating passages, saidcross-over relief check valves being normally closed to blockcommunication between said first and second operating passages and beingopenable under predetermined pressure in either of said first or secondoperating passages to establish fluid flow therebetween.
 36. The deviceof claim 32 and further including a second return passage in said basemember extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoirand having a second return passage opening in said control exteriorsurface, said control block having a blocking surface for blocking saidsecond return passage opening.
 37. The device of claim 26 and furtherincluding first and second spaced-apart return passages in said basemember extending from said control exterior surface to said reservoir,said control block having spaced-apart first, second, third and fourthselector valves movable between first and second positions, said controlblock having a connecting exterior surface facing said control exteriorsurface on said base member and a remaining exterior control blockexterior surface, first and second spaced-apart control block passagesextending from said connecting exterior surface to said first selectorvalve, said first and second passages defining said connecting passagemeans, said first control block passage communicating with said pumpoutlet passage opening in said control surface of said base member andsaid second control block passage communcating with said ram energizingpassage opening in said control exterior surface of said base member, afirst valve connecting passage connecting said first and second selectorvalves, said first selector valve being operative in said first positionthereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first controlblock passage to said second control block passage and to block fluidflow therethRough from said first control block passage to said firstvalve connecting passage, said first selector valve being operative insaid second position thereof to block fluid flow therethrough from saidfirst control block passage to said second control block passage and toestablish fluid flow therethrough from said first control block passageto said first valve connecting passage, a second valve connectingpassage extending from said second selector valve to said third selectorvalve, a third valve connecting passage extending from said secondselector valve to said fourth selector valve, said second selector valvebeing operative in said first position thereof to establish fluid flowtherethrough from said first valve connecting passage to said secondvalve connecting passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from saidfirst valve connecting passage to said third valve connecting passage,said second selector valve being operative in said second positionthereof to establish fluid flow therethrough from said first valveconnecting passage to said third valve connecting passage and to blockfluid flow therethrough from said first valve connecting passage to saidsecond valve connecting passage, first and second spaced-apart operatingpassages extending from said third selector valve to said remainingexterior surface of said control block, a first control block returnpassage extending from said third selector valve to said control blockconnecting exterior surface, and communicating with said first returnpassage on said base member, said third selector valve being opeartivein said first position thereof to establish fluid flow therethrough fromsaid second valve connecting passage to said first operating passage andfrom said second operating passage to said first return passage and toblock fluid flow from said second valve connecting passage to saidsecond operating passage and said first return passage, said thirdselector valve being operative in said second position thereof toestablish fluid flow from said second valve connecting passage to saidsecond operating passage and from said first operating passage to saidfirst return passage and to block fluid flow therethrough from saidsecond valve connecting passage to said first operating passage and saidfirst return passage, spaced-apart third and fourth operating passagesextending from said fourth selector valve to said remaining controlblock exterior surface, a second control block return passage extendingfrom said fourth selector valve to said connecting exterior surface andcommunicating with said second return passage in said base member, saidfourth selector valve being operative in said first position thereof toestablish fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connectingpassage to said third operating passage and from said fourth operatingpassage to said second return passage and to block fluid flowtherethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said fourthoperating passage and said second return passage, and said fourthselector valve being operative in said second position thereof toestablish fluid flow therethrough from said third valve connectingpassage to said fourth operating passage and from said third operatingpassage to said second return passage and to block fluid flowtherethrough from said third valve connecting passage to said thirdoperating passage and said second return passage.
 38. The device ofclaim 37 and further including first and second check valvesrespectively in said second and third valve connecting passages forallowing fluid flow from said second selector valve to said third andfourth selector valves and blocking fluid flow from said third andfourth selector valves to said second selector valve.
 39. The device ofclaim 38 and further including first and second pilot operated checkvalves respectively in said first and second control block returnpassages, a first pilot passage extending from said second valveconnecting passage to said first pIlot operated check valve, a secondpilot passage extending from said third valve connecting passage to saidsecond pilot operated check valve, said first and second pilot operatedcheck valves being normally closed to block fluid flow through saidfirst and second control block return passages from said third andfourth selector valves, said pilot operated check valves being movableto open position to allow fluid flow through said first and secondcontrol block return passages by fluid flowing under pressure throughsaid second and third valve connecting passages and into said first andsecond pilot passages.
 40. The device of claim 39 and further includingcross-over pressure relief check valve means interconnecting said firstand second operating passages, said relief check valve means beingnormally closed to block fluid flow between said first and secondoperating passages and being movable to open position underpredetermined pressure in either of said first and second operatingpassages to establish fluid flow therebetween.
 41. A power unit andcontrol device for controlling the position of a plow blade including anextendable and retractable ram for raising and lowering said blade andpower angling cylinder means for angling said blade in either ofopposite directions, said device including a reservoir-ram unit having aone-piece base member and a one-piece control block directly connectedto said base member, said base member and control block having aplurality of interconnected passageways bored therein and connectedthrough selector valve means for selectively extending and retractingsaid ram to raise and lower said blade and for selectively energizingsaid power angling cylinder means to angle said blade to a desirableposition.
 42. The device of claim 41 wherein said base member andone-piece control block further include interconnected passageways boredtherein and connected through selector valve means for selectivelycontrolling energization of an additional plow blade.